Weird: Do you know Internet got a Saint?
Profile: Saint Isidore - the Patron Saint of the Internet.
The patron saint of the internet is widely
considered to be Saint Isidore of Seville, a
Bishop and scholar, who was nominated for the role by the late Pope John Paul II, although the Vatican has yet to make it official.
Saint Isidore wrote a 20 book opus Etymologies, also known as the Origins, in which he tried to record everything that
was known. Published after his death in 636, it was for a thousand years considered the encyclopedia of all human
knowledge.
Written in simple Latin, it was all a man needed in order to have access to everything he wanted to know about the
world but never dared to ask, from the 28 types of common noun to the names of women's outer garments. It was a tool by those seeking wisdom much like the
internet is used now. The website catholic.org suggests the faithful over a prayer to the Saint before logging onto the internet.
The prayer includes the line: "we beseech Thee that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor,
during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter."
Further reading: The Telegraph
Pictures: Nri emerges overall winner in Abuja's 2015 Anambra Day celebration
14th November, 2015.
It was all pomp as different town unions of Anambra state gathered at Eagle Square, Abuja, Nigeria, to celebrate this year's event under the platform of Anambra State People's Assembly. The governor of the state, represented by the Deputy governor, was also present for the occasion.
The bi-annual event already in its fifth edition saw towns like Awkuzu, Achina, Nri, Onitsha, Awka, Enugu- Ukwu, and several towns within the state display the cultural uniqueness of their towns which include attires, masquerades, food, dance and cultural artifacts.
Agukwu Nri emerged double winner in category of Best in Costume and Best in March past. It did not come as a surprise since their stand was already rich in masquerades and cultural artifacts of the town known for its religious hegemony it wielded in the past across Igboland.
Immediate past winner was Awkuzu town.
See pictures of the event.
The Problem With Nigeria's North (Case Study: Sokoto) - Sopuru Egbodo
Before my present sojourn in Sokoto, I had always believed, just like most of my comrades on the "South side" (South-east & South-South) of Nigeria where I hail from, that the root cause of every problem emanating from the "Northside" is a result of lack of education. Judging by its decision to build almajiri schools across the northern states, I believe the Nigerian government bought the hullabaloo too.
If lack of education is not the problem, then what is?
Two things are the root causes of the northern "Wahala".
* RELIGION:
Like I have earlier said in one of my posts, everything in the north (Using Sokoto as a case study) revolves around religion. The
religion of the people and its laws dictates almost everything they do, be it in associations,behaviors etc. The women are meant to add the Hijab (that sometimes cover their bodies from the hair to toes) to their daily outfits, not
minding the "extremely scorching" heat. A man can abandon you in his shop or office to go and pray even though you have waited hours for him. If one is bound in such a way by his beliefs,he could as well do anything for its sake even...
*Bad and Visionless Leadership
Even without consulting Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics on this, I can say (from my observations) without blinking that the illiteracy & poverty rate in northern Nigeria is simply mind blowing!
Even with a myriad of government owned primary and secondary schools dotting the landscapes of the Sokoto's sahara, attendance to the schools is most times than not zero,and government has continued to fund these schools even without plans and ideas on how to increase attendance.
Even the students who attend the schools, not minding their level, still find it hard to arrange a phrase using English words. Why?
English language is "purposely" extinguished from the social curriculum of the average Hausa man right from childhood for reasons I suspect to derive from both religion & economic colonization by the leaders too.
Note that a mind that is bereft of education is very much open to poverty.
Now you know, that lack of education or illiteracy in the North is not the major cause of the problems in Northern
Nigeria,but what clinical psychology calls a secondary symptom.
*In the picture: Almajiris at the Shehu Shagari market, Sokoto Nigeria.
Photo credit:
Sopuru Egbodo
******
Sopuru Egbodo is a graduate of Psychology at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is currently a corper at Sokoto state, Nigeria.
Two things Founder of Adidas taught me: Black Platinum or Black Monkey - Chimezie Anajama
I am currently reading about Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas. Two things struck me for now about the foundation of his shoe company. First, he began few years after the first world war, 1920, and kept on at it, working and preparing till his big break in 1936 olympic; in between the time frame,
though handful but he has amassed persons that believed in his vision due to his resilience and innovative flexible designs for different field and athletic sports.
From the above, miracle does not just happen; your resilient, creative and innovative preparations get you an opportunity that translates to miracle. Remember, i can't tell you goodluck in an exam you've prepared for. That ?? WAEC 'miracle' story that turns to 77 is not real. For a starter, did you see the script? There's difference a between reading for an exam, no matter how little, and not fully
understanding the questions but something was penned down on the script, no matter how OP it may read, than not reading at all and your script only had your your name, nothing else. Haba! na jazz you use take the 77? I know God can't do for me what i can do for myself.
My second lesson from that story. Jesse Owen. An American. Winner of so many medals in that olympic that happened in Adi's country where he wore one of Adi's
product, and helped Adi realize that the best promoter of sports kits are the athletes in the competition. You see, sometime in my teenage years, i encountered ENCARTA KIDS, and one of the sports heroes of 20th century that was profiled was Jesse Owen. Being one of the first blacks to win in an olympics helped the hype and that Olympic was Berlin 1936. Are you getting the dots? Owen's victories irked the Fuhrer. Oh he couldn't hide the anger during the games. That a black man, the so called black
monkey, could win not just one gold medal, but more than one gold medal, was quinine to Hitler and rest of Germany.
But it benefitted Adi, a german.
Don't ever be shortsighted. Always scout in unlikely places for opportunity. Your enemy can be the key to your success.
Worship him, get what you want, and move on. Adi saw what others failed to see. Adi saw a black platinum in Owen, Hitler and others saw a black monkey. I wonder which side was proved right. What do i even know.
Pix: See these Made-in Nigeria products by these students.
Well, technical schools are so used to being around. But what about a technical institute that is involved in entrepreneurship, hospitality, production, not many right?
Well, during their matriculation of new students, the older students of Mario Institute of Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, Uhunowerre, Nsukka, Enugu state exhibited these products which they produced to their guests. I was there and i couldn't help taking awesome pix of them.
Photo credit:
@Chimezie Anajama.
Pix: do you think these dancers should've been women?
Saw them and begged that i take a pix of them. Some of their colleagues refused but two of them gave me this striking pose.
I think i like.
Dancers from Enugu state Cultural troupe.
By the way, i missed their performance but i am glad i took a chunk of this.
Exclusive: Fiction: Borrowed Happiness - Kingsley Okechukwu
Only the photographer was invited to her birthday celebration. It wasn't invitation as you know it, nor was it a celebration as normal people do it. 'Celebration', used because it is the word most suitable to succeed a birthday. It was the word that had succeeded her forty-one birthdays before today, in two continents, among thousands of friends, hundreds of colleagues, tens of family and one or two genuine admirers. It was the word that had embraced her birthdays, trapped them. It was her 42nd birthday today, though she spent the whole morning crying and half of the afternoon nursing a violent headache, it was a birthday celebration. It had to be, by default. Naturally.She didn't invite her regular photographer because she didn't want to use her phone. She had switched off her phone to keep off the insipid birthday text messages which hung in the air, like an army of vultures, ready to pounce. Switching on her phone, for a minute, to call her photographer would open the dreaded floodgate of unwanted goodwill which would hit her with whirlpool force
and drown her in sorrow. So she took her cold bath, spent half an hour with the eye pencil erasing the tell-tale signs of tears, then put on a simple blouse over tracksuit trousers and went out in search of a photographer.
Though Emily had abolished the cake, the new dress, the assorted drinks, the sumptuous meals, and the mob that had been part of her birthdays like false shadow, since she could remember, she couldn't bring herself to banish the memory aspect. She would capture it in lens. Her mind hadbeen most untrustworthy in capturing past events, mostly bringing back blurred figures where there were bright, black and white where they occurred in technicolor. She trusted the camera more than her memory. She would prefer her memories in postcards. There would be no children, never
grandchildren, to see them, but she would capture it all the same.
she permitted a wry smile soften her brow and decided she was beautiful (If she were without at least thirty kilograms of flesh, and without this mound of a belly which the evil one filled up every night while she slept, with materials meant for pregnancy). Perhaps if she were slim and flat in the
belly like normal ladies she would have since hooked a husband, she thought bitterly. And immediately cursed herself for thinking a stupid defeatist thought. She didn't need to be bony to get married; she was beautifully made, and proud of herself. The right man would come, love her
the way she was. Although he hadn't come since the twenty years she left Leeds University, hadn't come since the ten years she become an executive secretary, hadn't come since the four years she became a regional manager; less than eight years to menopause, he hadn't come!
Tears welled in her eyes but she bit hard on her lip, forcing the tears to remain where they were, determined not to ruin her make-believe happiness, her carefully built public picture. Her gate man was not on his post when she opened the bulletproof gate and stepped into the bright street. She
made a mental note to rebuke him when she returned. Stupid man, useless man. She forced herself to be angry at the poor man, and found it diverting and ruefully soothing being angry with one man, who was her employee, than with the world of men's folk who owed her no allegiance.
She had no time for stupid men who were past errors, a prize for her youthful naivety. When her gate-man returned she would tell him her mind. Period.
He was a tall, thin man whose face was fixed in a permanently frozen smile, a smile that didn't reach the eyes of course. He could be any age from 35 to 58. Emily gave
him 45.
'Ah, Aunty Emily.' At her age, Aunty Emily, instead of Mummy John or Iyawo Matthew. She swallowed a bitter lump.
'Do you know where I can find a photographer? A good photographer,' she added.
'Ah, Aunty Vero's nephew is a photographer na,' he replied.
'You don't know?' She didn't know. 'Ah, the poor boy finished University since, no job, so he began to snap people, and the guy is good o; he was the one who covered Chief Barnabas wedding to his second wife. Though he didn't cover the first wife shedding tears.' And BBC laughed so hard a vein, like a whip, appeared on his neck. Emily donated a weak chuckle.
'How do I contact the guy?'
'What do you need him for?'
Tell him and the whole Port Harcourt would hear about it within minutes.
'I just need a photographer. But, BBC you sabi gossip o.'
'Ah.' They laughed. 'Just go home Aunty Emily, I will call him, shey you are at home?' She said she was at home. 'He would come and meet you there.'
'Oh BBC, you are such a darling.' She meant it.
'Ah, I like you na. You are my aunty. You no dey gossip.'
'Abi.'
'Ehen na.'
'What is the guy's name?'
'Nicholas. But his studio name is Paparazzi.'
And Emily smiled the first genuine smile of the day. When she reached the gate, she discovered she was lighthearted enough to be hungry. She even forgot to rebuke the gateman smiling a sheepish welcome at her. She decided to cook a meal. Not a birthday dish, just a dish to alleviate hunger.
Emily was one of those people who can never do things in small proportions. What began as an ordinary meal to silence hunger soon became something she couldn't name. She opened the fridge, brought out the chicken, lit her double-burner cooker and set two pots steaming. Two hours later, she was setting a table with food made for a family of four. She was interrupted by the call of the door
bell. Who could that be?
A tall man of elevated looks, in his mid-thirties, clad in smart suit stood before her as she opened the door. Her heart braked for a moment then began a desperate search of her memory, seeking any minute conversation that could attempt an explanation of this visitor.
'Good afternoon,' his voice was deeply musical.
She nodded. What did her bank want with her? Why didn't they call her phone?
'I am Nicholas the photographer.'
Her eyes widened. 'Actually I was in an interview venue when BBC called me. I decided to branch in here.' She made way for him. Where is his camera?
He showed her his briefcase. 'In here. With my credentials.'
'I was about to dine,' she said, what else was there to say? 'Please join me.' She suddenly wanted this man to see that she was happy. A small smile cut his face into two beautiful halves. So small it was gone, like a flash of friendly thunder, before she could join in.
'It's my birthday,' she announced as he settle on the dining.
'Oh beautiful, beautiful, where's the champagne and the crowd of loved ones?'
'It's just a personal celebration,' she explained. 'Just me and you. I mean, me and your camera.' She laughed, almost shyly. He smiled, almost lovely.
She brought the champagne and two glasses. She filled them with white bubbles. We toast for a future table surrounded with a glutinous husband and half a dozen mischievous kids. She said this in her mind
.
He toasted. 'For a most beautiful woman on an excellent day.' She blushed. 'Happy birthday, dear.'
Clink. She quickly put the glass in her handsome lips to hide her embarrassment. She drained the drink in one quick gulp. She filled it again and gulped it sharply. She felt a false calmness shroud her gently, tightly. She filled the glass the third time. Her guest touched her wrist. She looked up and locked eyes. She saw something like appreciation in his brown eyes; she strained to confirm it,
to shower in its glory. She barely noticed him take the glass.
He sat down. She sat down. 'Let's eat,' she said.
'Of course.'
She stood up. 'It's too quiet.' She made for her sound system. Jay Z's 'Forever Young' filled the room with strong melody. It was a track she had played on repeat for thousands of time. She still hadn't learnt the lyric. She didn't need to, she was okay with the sheer comfort the song proffered. She was now in her forties but she was forever young, forever young enough to be happy, to celebrate... to marry.
'Let's dance for a while,' she sang; 'the dining can wait.
Yaaay!I am so happy!'
So much for two glasses of champagne, Nicholas thought.
'Come on,' she called.
She danced well. With more enthusiasm than beauty. He brought out his Canon digital camera and began to shoot. She danced for him, he captured her; she danced harder, he shot smarter. She knew she was living in borrowed happiness but she was willing to suck it to the fullest. She raised her hands above her dreadlocks which swayed joyfully on her shoulders, to the rhythm of her mood, to the brilliance of his lens.
Each dance step brought her closer to the camera. She couldn't have enough of this memory recorder. She ached to embrace it, possess it. When she reached the camera she stretched her hands and hugged the cameraman. She set her lips for a crowning kiss. He saw it coming and aptly shifted his head and her face landed on his shoulder. The mist of the sparkling wine lifted momentarily and she saw
the stark hopelessness of her situation. Now she understood that what she missed most was a comfortable shoulder to cry on. She seized the opportunity, she cried her heart out through tears, soaking what could be his only suit.
He let her cry to her fill. But it seemed she would never be filled. She seemed to weep for all of the decades of heartache, broken promises, compromises, rejection. It seemed she needed forty-two years to equalise her shortfalls with tears, and be satisfied.
Nicholas decided to lead her to her bedroom. She didn't budge, he carried her. In the carriage of his arms, Emily felt an acute sensuous desire grab her. Perhaps this was all she needed all this years, a man that would rock her world without seeking entrance into her heart. Someone who would just make love to her body, have intercourse with her soul, without scarring her heart. She wept no more, her tears suspended for the coming joy of orgasm.
He placed her on the bed. She shut her eyes, waiting for the touch that killed. But he was reaching for the sheets or something. Well, let him take his time. There was no hurry, she was ready to make love for the next forty-two years. 'Come on baby,' she breathed. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes, he was gone.
The joy of the disappointment was so great, she resumed crying. But as she wept her rejuvenated heart analysed. He didn't take advantage of her. He was a gentle man, cute, understanding, enterprising. Perhaps this was the man that had eluded her for years. He was searching for a job. She
would help, collect his CV and fix something for him at the Establishment. From there, who knows? Who knows?
***********
Photo credit:
shutterstock.com
canstock.com
Kingsley Okechukwu.